A new product is making waves in the tobacco industry: nicotine pouches, which look a bit like tea bags and are placed between the lip and gums. Unlike cigarettes, they don’t contain any tobacco and instead use plant fibres (which serve as fillers and give the pouches their shape), sweeteners, and flavorings to deliver nicotine. They’re often sold in small tins of 15 to 20 pouches, with most brands suggesting using one at a time for about an hour.Learn more:https://heysnus.com/pt/collections/nicotine-pouches
While marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, these products are not risk-free and may cause the same health concerns as other tobacco or nicotine products such as mouth and gum irritation, stomach upset, and allergic reactions. They also may contribute to tobacco or nicotine addiction. Currently, these products are not well-regulated in many countries and regions, which could undermine efforts to curb tobacco and nicotine use at the individual and population level. The tobacco industry has already heavily promoted these products, including to young people through social media influencers.
Nicotine Pouches: Dissecting the Ingredients and Manufacturing Process
While these influencers claim they are helping people quit smoking by switching to nicotine pouches, the evidence on the effectiveness of these products is limited and further research is needed. Until then, it’s important that parents understand what nicotine pouches are and how they can pose a serious risk to children if ingested. Read more about this emerging category of tobacco and nicotine products in our Policy Scans and the Bath TCRG’s recent paper: Nicotine Pouch Products and Youth: An Introduction to Policy Issues.